Buckle



(No Model.)

L. D. RANK. BUCKLE.

No. 586,746. Patented July 20, 1897.

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UniiTEp STATES PATENT QEEICE.

l.E\VlS D. RANK, OF XVILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,746, dated July 20,1897.

Application iiled March 8,1897. Serial No. 626,582. (No model.)

Be it known that I, LEwis D. RANK, a citizen of the United States,residing at W'illiamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain ncwand useful Improvements inBuckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a 'f ull, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to 1n ake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles, and more particularlyto harnessbnckles; and the object thereof is to so construct the samethat it will be simple, cheap, durable, strong, and easily manipulated.

lVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as will be rstitully pointed out in the specification and then claimed.

In the drawings forminga part of this specification, and in which likesymbols of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views,Figure l is a plan view of my invention, showing the same in operativeposit-ion applied to a trace. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3is a side view of the main member of the buckle, and Fig. t is a similarView of the other member of the buckle.

A and B represent the two members forming the buckle. The memberA is ametallic frame substantially rectangular in form and having the twoupper portions a a3 lying substantially in the same plane. The lowerportion a3 lies in a different plane, the space between the two planesbeing equivalent to the thickness of the strap to which it is to beapplied. This lower portion a3 has also formed depressions or bearings afor a purpose which will be presently explained. The bar A joins the twosides of the lower portion of the frame A and is adapted to hold thestrap which is inserted within the same.

The member B is composed of a square portion b, which terminates in thecenter in journals or trunnions h2 and has a triangular tongue-plate B',at the end of which is formed the tongue or stud of the buckle b. On abracket, also formed integral with the member B, is a frame h3, whichconstitutes an axle for a friction-roller D, which facilitates theinsertion of the strap.

D and E are sections of a tracing to which my invention is applied, theportion E being attached to the collar or haines of the harness and theportion D beingattached to the singletree or other portion of thevehicle.

The tongue-plate B' and frame h of the member B are of quadrant shape inside View, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The portion b' is to be attachedto thc trace, and when in its operative position the tongue on the tracehas a tendency to normally press the pintlcor tongue b upward or towardthe strap, holding the same firmly in its place and locking it in a firmand secure manner.

The tru n nions orjournals b2 rest in the bearings a and oscillatewithin the same, so that the buckle may readily be thrown into or out ofoperative position with relation to the harness.

As will be readily seen, the two parts constituting my device may bemanufactured separately and easily assembled, making a neat andeilicient buckle which will possess great strength and have the minimumnumber of parts.

The operation of the device is as follows: The portion b/ being attachedto the strap the member A is passed over the same, and the pintles b2are placed in the bearings a, the tongue b normally resting on the outerportion of the bar CL2 of the frame A. The other end of the strap ispassed through the opening between the bars a and A and between thetriangular tongue-plate B' and the bar a2, and the tongue B is passedthrough the perforations in the strap and through or into the keeper C.The greater the tension exerted on the strap the greater the bindingforce ot' the buckle.

One of the great advantages of a buckle of this kind is its use withtraces and heavy harness, where great difiiculty is always found inmanipulating the ordinary buckle. The stil'ness of the leather,particularly when getting old, makes it difiicult to insert the tonguein the perforations in the same. vice, however, this objection isobviated, the construction of the same being suoli that the tongue maybe inserted with ease and dispatch. Furthermore, any catchin g of thereins or horses tail in the same is prevented.

Having now fully described my invention,

By my de-' IOO what I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

l. In a buckle, the combination With the main rectangular memberthereof, having upper and lower bars lying in different planes, thelower bars having a cross-piece connecting its side pieces, a secondmember adapted to be pivotally connected to the first, a triangularpiece extending from the axis of the second member and carrying thetongue of the buckle, and a frame also extending from the axis of saidmember for attachment to the harness.

2. In a buckle, the combination with the main member thereof providedWith bearings,

a second member having journals resting in said bearings, a triangularpiece extending from the axis of the second member and carrying thetongue of the buckle, a frame also extending from the axis of saidmember for attachment to the harness, and a frictionroller journaled onthe axis of the second member.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

Ii. D. RANK.

/Vitnesses:

ANDREW OTT, CHAs. S. BAUM.

